Entomological Science (2010) 13, 234–249 doi:10.1111/j.1479-8298.2010.00379.x ORIGINAL ARTICLE Taxonomic review of the genus Pseudostegania Butler, 1881, with description of four new species and comments on its tribal placement in the Larentiinae (Lepidoptera: Geometridae)ens_379 234..249 Hongxiang HAN,1 Dieter STÜNING2 and Dayong XUE3 1,3Key Laboratory of Zoological Systematics and Evolution, Institute of Zoology, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing, China; and 2Zoologisches Forschungsmuseum Alexander Koenig, Adenauerallee 160, Bonn, Germany Abstract The genus Pseudostegania Butler is revised. In addition to the two species known, four species are described as new: P. lijiangensis sp. nov. from Yunnan Province, P. qinlingensis sp. nov. from Gansu and Shaanxi Provinces, P. zhoui sp. nov. from Sichuan Province (China) and P. burmaensis sp. nov. from Burma (Myanmar); two species are newly combined with Pseudostegania: P. distinctaria (Leech, 1897), comb. nov. and P. yargongaria (Oberthür, 1916), comb. nov. All the known species are redescribed and lectotypes are designated for P. defectata (Christoph, 1881), P. distinctaria and P. yargongaria. The generic characters, based on all species, are summarized. The tribal placement of Pseudostegania is discussed. Illustrations of moths and genitalia are presented. Key words: distribution, female genitalia, male genitalia, morphology, redescription. INTRODUCTION their work on the tribe Asthenini and associated genera. This is because both species neither agree with the The genus Pseudostegania was described by Butler generic characters of Asthena nor belong to the tribe (1881), based on P. chrysidia Butler, 1881 from Japan, Asthenini, but they did not point out the genus where which was treated as a junior subjective synonym of these two species should be placed. In the present paper, P. defectata (Christoph, 1881) by Inoue (1977) and they are combined with the genus Pseudostegania, based Fletcher (1979), and was considered as a subspecies of P. on genitalia characters and external features. defectata by Inoue (1982). Prout (1914) hinted a pos- In recent years, new material has been collected or sible relationship of defectata with Laciniodes plurilin- discovered in collections and new taxa need to be earia Moore, 1868, but he later placed defectata into described. The purposes of this paper are to describe Asthena (Prout, 1938), just mentioning that face and four new species of Pseudostegania and to transfer palps agree better with members of Asthena. Leech another two species to this genus; to provide diagnostic (1897) described another two species, Hydrelia stra- generic characters in relation to other genera; to ensure minearia and Hydrelia distinctaria, from western China, nomenclatural stability for three species by designating and both species were transferred to Asthena by Prout lectotypes; and to redescribe all the known species. In (1914), repeated by Scoble (1999). Xue and Zhu (1999) addition, the tribal placement of Pseudostegania is dis- combined straminearia with Pseudostegania. Asthena cussed and illustrations of external features and genita- distinctaria together with Asthena yargongaria, the lia of all taxa are provided. latter described by Oberthür (1916) from Tibet, were excluded from Asthena by Xue and Scoble (2002) in MATERIALS AND METHODS Specimens studied were obtained from the Institute Correspondence: Dayong Xue, Key Laboratory of Zoological Systematics and Evolution, Institute of Zoology, Chinese of Zoology, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing, Academy of Sciences, 1 Beichen West Road, Chaoyang China (IZCAS); Zoologisches Forschungsmuseum District, Beijing, 100101, China. Email: [email protected] Alexander Koenig, Bonn, Germany (ZFMK), The Received 21 August 2009; accepted 11 November 2009. Natural History Museum, London, UK (NHM), © 2010 The Entomological Society of Japan Taxonomic review of Pseudostegania Museum für Naturkunde der Humboldt-Universitat, black brown patches; two lines sometimes confluent Berlin, Germany (MNHU) and China Agricultural or hardly differentiated; submarginal line double, the University (CAU). distal one usually diffuse or consisting of a series of Photographs of specimens were taken using various patches; subterminal or terminal lines composed of digital cameras and microscopes. Terminology of wing patches or dots between veins, sometimes indistinct. venation follows the Comstock–Needham System Hindwing: basal line present; medial line usually (Comstock 1918) and that of the genitalia is based on straight; postmedial line double, the outer one generally Pierce (1914), Klots (1970) and Nichols (1989). The more strongly waved or curved; submarginal line built digital images were enhanced and the plates compiled as a double line, or a series of patches; subterminal or using Photoshop software (Adobe Systems, San Jose, terminal lines similar to that of the forewing. Discal CA, USA). spot present on forewing and hindwing. Underside: ornamentation similar to upperside, but usually more dull, indistinct, and browner; suffusion of forewing TAXONOMY stronger on costal basal area, along postmedial and Pseudostegania Butler submarginal areas and apex. Venation (Fig. 33). Forewing with two areoles, M Pseudostegania Butler, 1881, Trans. Ent. Soc. Lond. 1 fused with lower margin of second areole at base, M 1881: 416. 2 arising from above middle of discocellulars, CuA1 not Type species. Pseudostegania chrysidia Butler, 1881 stalked with M3. Hindwing with Sc+R1 long-stalked (September)–(a junior synonym of Cidaria defectata with upper vein of cell, Rs long-stalked with M1, dis- Christoph, 1881 (April) Bull. Soc. Imp. Nat. Moscou, cocellulars not angled, M2 a little closer to M1,M3 and 55 (3): 108. CuA1 separate, 3A absent. Redescription. Head and body. Antennae simple, fili- Male genitalia. Tegumen large, with a flattened distal form in both, male and female, upper surface of each extension, with rounded posterior margin. Extended segment scaled, often chequered pale and dark brown, part covering the reduced, knob-like uncus. On ventral lower surface shortly ciliate, yellow-brown or brown. side of tegumen there is a pair of lateral sclerites which Frons slightly protruding, smooth-scaled, whitish to may be fused basally or not. This seems to be a reduced, pale yellow; sometimes lower half black brown; upper not functional gnathus. Subscaphium basally with a margin often with a dark brown patch or a narrow slender shaft, expanded posterior part spinose. Valva band; width of central part almost equal to or slightly often narrow sub-basally, expanded and setose apically, broader than horizontal diameter of compound eye. costa sclerotized, with an oval subapical broadening, Labial palpus very short, rough-scaled, 3rd segment slightly protruding and also setose, very vague in P. nearly invisible; upper surface whitish brown to dark burmaensis and of a different shape, rather pouch-like in brown, ventral and inner surface pale brown or whitish. P. zhoui; sacculus often not distinct, sometimes with a Vertex whitish to pale yellow. Chaetosemata arranged as pointed process (P. qinlingensis, P. yargongaria); saccus a transverse band. Patagia whitish to pale yellow, mixed well-developed and broad, protruding. Transtilla a pair with black brown scales, or occasionally with a dark of small, acute sclerites connected with extraordinary brown transverse band. Tegulae white, with base black labides, the latter consisting of narrow, sclerotized shafts brown. Thorax with dorsal and ventral sides whitish. with ovally expanded, membranous and setose apices, Abdomen whitish to yellowish, sometimes with black the latter with narrow and long openings, along the brown intersegmental scales. margin of which the setae are stronger and arranged Wing shape and pattern. Forewing with costa slightly more densely, sometimes the distal parts of the setae curved, apex rounded or slightly pointed. Hindwing are broadened scale-like; the shafts are arising from the with apex and anal angle rounded, costa and inner base of the valva and are connected dorsally with the margin almost of the same length. Outer margin of transtilla by short, rod-like branches, ventrally longer both wings slightly wavy, protruding. Wings whitish branches are extending downwards to the juxta. Their to pale yellow. Forewing: yellow costal and terminal basal ends may be fused or not. Juxta a large, sclero- bands present or not; basal and antemedial lines tized, simple, pouch-like process, with posterior margin sinuous, curved, or straight and angled at posterior pointed or blunt. Anellus densely spinulose, small spines margin of costal band; medial line close to postmedial mixed with long and strong spines. Aedeagus broad, the area, similar trend as postmedial lines; postmedial lines shaft densely spinulose apically, vesica with a large, usually double, oblique and angled at posterior margin pointed cornutus and a narrow, elongate, slightly scle- of costa band, or curved, forming one to two distinct, rotized diverticulum. Entomological Science (2010) 13, 234–249 235 © 2010 The Entomological Society of Japan H. Han et al. Female genitalia. Ovipositor short, with lobes surfaces whitish. Vertex whitish yellow, concolorous oval, rather weak, moderately setose. Often a narrow with major part of frons. Patagia mottled with black antevaginal, sclerotized transverse band present, broad- brown scales. Tegulae whitish yellow, their bases black ening laterally, sometimes modified or absent. Antrum brown. Thorax whitish